Splicing machine



Jan. 9, 1940. M. L. ENGLER ET'AL SPLICING MACHINE Filed NOV. 30, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. L. ENGLER ET AL Jan. 9, 1940.

SPLICING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll ENTgRs 2 Filed NOV. 30, 1955 high/ g l4 ATTORNEYs SPLICIIG MACHINE 9, 1940. M. L. ENGLER El Al. $1

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 30, 1935 ATTORNEY5 .Jan. 9, 194 M. E NGLER ET AL 2,186,286

SPLIGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1935 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 {mm mm PH LN Jan. 9 1940. M. L. ENGLER ET AL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 SPLIOING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1955 lllll VENT R5 wi y ATTORNEYS u m'rso STATES- RATENT- OFFICE a cam. (cl; use-14) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for splicing the ends of elongated uncured rubber bodies.

One. of the objects of the present invention is '5 to provide a new and improved method of. splicing uncured bodies of rubber by means of which the ends of the body are easily and efilciently brought into adhering contact with each other. Another object is to provide a splicing appa- 1 ratus of new and improved constructionjin which means for cutting the uncured stock to, predetermined length and means for eiiiciently joining the ends of the body are provided.

With the above and other objects in view the 15 present invention consists in certain method steps and certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings and then claimed. I

so In the drawings, which show the invention in connection with the splicing of rubber tube stock,

Figure 1 is a view showing the step of cutting the tube stock to predetermined size. 25 Fig. 2 is a view showing the step of punching the tube to provide a valve stem opening.

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the tube stock in supported position and showing the punched valve stem opening therein.

90 Fig. 4 is a view showing the positioning of the valve body on the tube over the opening.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the step of pressing the valve body into position in alignment with the opening of the tube.

I Fig. 6 is a view showing the ends of the tube supported in a position to be clamped for joining the ends of the tube to ether.

Fig; '1 is a view showing the step of joining the ends of the tube together. 40 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the joined ends of the tube stock. r I

Fig. 8a is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the splicer I Fig. 9 is a plan :view of the apparatus of the 45 present invention. g

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line i0i9 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line ii-ll of Fig. 9. I

60 Fig. 12 is a section taken approximately on the line l2-i2 of Fig. 9. v

Fig. 13 is a section taken approximately. on the line i3-'-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. vl-i is a side elevation of the apparatus 55 shown inFig. 9. a

Fig. 15 is an end'elevation showing 'the tube cutting knife and the means for forming the opening for the valve body. j

Fig. 16' is an enlarged section taken approxi- S mately on the line l9il of Fig. 15. 5

Fl 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view partiaily section showing the means for latching the punch used in forming the tube with a valve dy op ning.

' Fig. 18 is a fragmentary top plan view showing 10 the two different positions of the punch and the valve body pressing means. v Fig. 19 is an enlarged view partially in section showing the valve body pressing means and the punch. 1 Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 showing the punch in its lower-most position.

Fig. 21 is a section taken approximately on the line 2l-2l' of Fig. 19.

Fig. 22 is a schematic showing of hydraulic 20 means-for operatingthe cutting blade and the valve body pressing means.

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the-tube splicing means showing the carriage in its retracted position and taken approximately on line 23-23 as of Fig. 9.

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23 but showing the carriage in its operative position. I I

.Fig. 25 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the tube splicingvmeans, when the carriage is in so its operative position, taken approximatelyv on line 2525 of Fig. 26.

Fig.- 26 is atransverse section taken approximately on the line 26-29 of Fig. 25.v

Fig. 27 is a section taken approximately on as the line 21-21 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 28 is a. fragmentary plan view of the lowermost tube splicing jaws, portions of the same being shown in the section.

Fig. 29 is a plan view of the upper-most splicing jaws.

. stock and a means for joining the ends of the tube stock together.

. The apparatus of the present invention inu cludes a supporting table portion I, in which the various mechanisms are mounted.

The first step in the operation is to measure and cut the uncured tubular rubber stock to size and for this purpose the table portion I is provided with a longitudinally extending guide block 2' having tapered sides as shown in Fig. 11, which.

carry a slidable gauge arm 3. A screw 4 is provided in the arm I, which, when tightened against the guide block 2 clampsthe arm in position. The guide block 2 may be provided with a callbrated scale 5 so that the arm 2 canbe accurately set in the desired position. transversely of the table portionvl and is parallel to the edge of one of the ends of the table portion I.

Positioned at this end of the table portion I in alignment with the arm 2 is a plate 8, which is preferably of brass, and associated with this plate is a knife or cutter I. Inc cutter I is inclined as shown in Fig. 12 but is arranged to be reciprocated in a vertical direction.

The cutter I is 'guided at its ends in vertical slots s which are formed in spaced up-right mem-. bers III that extend upwardlyv from the end of thetableportionl the up-rightmembers ,Ill being formed one-member I Omiwhich issecured to the -1mder side of-the table portion- I: "The cutter I is' reciprocatedby means of guided members II connected" with the ends ofthe-cutter and having rack teeth I2 thereon which mesh with pinions' IL The pinions' it are mounted on a-shaft II, which is provided with an arm ID. The arm II is actuated by a rod It, which is connected with a plunger rod Il' extending into a hydraulic cylinder It, the plunger rod II having a plunger (not shown) for reciprocation within the cylinder I I. The cylinder I8 is provided with connections I! and 20, which extend to a valve 2| diagrammatically shown in Figure 22, the valve 2I being connected with a pressure line 22.

In cutting the tube-stock A to size, the arm 3 is set in the proper position corresponding to one-half the length to which the tube stock is to be cut and the tube stock is folded over upon itself as shown in Figure 1 with the folded end abutting the arm 3 and the ends thereof projecting over the shear plate 6 at the end of the table portion I. The valve 2I is then operated which causes the edge 8 of the cutter I to travel toward the plate 8- and cut oil the ends of the tube stock projecting beyond the plane of the cutter edge I.

I: desired, the cutter may be. heated by heating coil 22 secured thereto as shown in Figure 12. A stripper plate 2 may be provided to prevent the severed ends of the tube stock from clinging to the cutter. p K g The nextstep in the tube forming operation is to provide the tube stock A with a rubber valve body B in registration with an opening 0 to be formed in the tube stock. For this purpose an inverted U-shaped support 25 is provided. This support is secured to the member Illa, and is provided with an arm 26 extending over the table portion I as shown in Figures 9 and 14. The arm 7 I the'valve B consists in first punching the opening C (Figure 4), and then pressing the valve 3 in place. In order to do this. one end of the tube stockAisslidoverthearmaasshowninFigure The arm I extends.

2, so that one wall of the tube stock overlies the punch block 21. I

The apparatus employed comprises a punch "22 and a valve pressing tool 30, both of which are supported on the opposite endsv of a horizontal member 3|. The member 2I= is pivoted intermediate its ends on'a vertical pivot pinion 22, which is carried by a vertically movable arm 22, the arm 23 being guided for vertical movement in a dove-tail 8|, which is secured to the table portion I. The arm 22 is moved by a vertical plunger rod 25, which extends through the table portion I and into a fluid pressure cylinder 22 the rod having a plunger-(not shown) which slides within the cylinder 36. The cylinder ll has lines or conduits 31 and 28 which lead to a suitable valve 28 shown in Figure 22, the valve being connected by a conduit 40 with the main pressure line 22.

The punch 20 is in the form-oi an invertedfrusto-conical shell carried by the vertical rod ll, arranged to slide in a sleeve 42 carried by the pivoted member ii. The sleeve 42 is counterbored at its lower end at It to receive a coil spring 43 surrounding the rod H. oneend of the spring being in abutting engagement with a stop collar 7 45 secured to the rodlI- and the opposite end of the spring in an abutting engagement with the bottom of the counterbore M as shown in Figures- 19 and 20. The upper end of the sleeve 42 is provided with a counterbore a which receives a spring 42 that surrounds the rod 4|, the upper end of the spring 43:: being in engagement with guide keys a carried by the rod ll. The spring "a is of greater strength than the spring 43. The upper end of the rod II is provided with ratchet teeth 28, and the member 2| is provided with a pivoted lever 41, one end of which is arranged to engage the ratchet teeth 48 and hold the rod H in its upper-most position as shown in Figure 19 with the spring 43 compressed. A compression spring "a is arranged between the sleeve 42 and the lower end of the lever I! to resiliently urge the lower end of the lever outwardly to hold the upper end 48 of the lever in engagement with the ratchet teeth.

. The valve pressing tool 30 has a resilient part 49 at its lower surface and is hollow. as shown at 49a in Figure 19, to receive the stem portion of the valve body B. The tool 20 is secured to a vertical rod 50, which is fixed in any suitable manner to the horizontal pivot member 3|, as shown in Figures 19 and 20. The arm 2| is provided with a tension spring 3Ia, which acts to hold it in either of its pivoted positions,

In forming the opening C in thetube stock A the member 2| is pivoted to a position limited or the lever 41 is pressed inwardly toward the sleeve 42 to disengage the upper end 48 of the lever 41 from the ratchet teeth 46. The pressure of the spring 43 then drives the rod II and punch 20 downwardly with a force suflicient to cause the punch 22 to travel through the wall of the tube stock and term the opening '0. The compression pressure of the spring "a being greater than that of spring 42 then slightly raises the punch 22 so that it clears the surface of the table and so that the end 48 of the lever 41 will be enused by the ratchet teeth and hold the rod I in a slightly raised position. The arm II is then pivoted in a counterclockaieaaa'o 3 wise direction, as viewed in Figure 18 to the position shown in solid outline, this position being predetermined by an adjusting screw 52, to align the valve pressing tool 88 over a pin 28, which is 5 carried by a plunger 28a raised slightly above the surface of the table by a spring 88b. The tube stock is then moved so that the punched opening C surrounds the plunger 280 as shown in Figure 3. The valve body B which has a circular flange, the surface of which is preferably tacky, is positioned over the opening 0 as shown in dotted outline in Figure 4, the pin 28 extending into the opening in the valve body to hold the valve body in centered position with respect to the opening C.

The operator next operates the valve 88 which allows the fluid under pressure to enter the upper end of the cylinder 85 through the conduit 81 and drive the plunger downwardly, causing the tool 38 to travel downwardly with sufficient force to firmly press the flange of the valve body B into firm, intimate contact with the tube stock. Because of the fact that the tube stock is unvulcanized and the surface of the flange-ofthe valve body is tacky, the valve body will securely adhere to the tube stock.

During the downward travel of the member 8|.

the punch 28 travels through a sleeve 58 carried by a supporting bracket 58 at one side of the (-0 arm 28, as shown in Figures 9 and 14, and at a predetermined point in its travelthe collar 45 engages the sleeve 58 which holds the rod ll against further movement during the remainder of the travel of the arm 88, whereby the spring 43 will be compressed and the latching means described will hold the rod II in its upper-most latched position. The tube stock A. is now in condition to have the ends thereof joined together. The end faces of the tube stock are tacky as a result of the severing operation by the knife or cutter I and because of the fact that the tube stock is unvulcanized.

The apparatus for joining the ends of the tube stock together includes a pairof normally 45 spaced lower jaws 58 each having a' series of small upper projecting teeth 54 at its inner edge, and a pair of normally spaced upper Jaws 55 each having a series of small downwardly projecting teeth 58 at its inner edge, as shown in Figures- Mounted above the table portion I is a spaced horizontal plate 51 such as shown in Figures 14 and 25.

The plate '51 is formed with a recess 58 on its upper surface across its forward end; as seen in Figures 25, 27, 28,.and 30, to the bottom of which spaced guide blocks 5| are secured the guide blocks 5| having their upoer surfaces flush with the surface of the plate 51 and having inwardly extending tongues 52 spaced above the bottom of the recess 58, as shown in Figure 30. Also mounted in the recess 58 inwardly of the block ii are a pair of spaced sliding blocks 58,

having grooves 54 receiving the tongues 82 the blocks 53 being urged apart by a spring 55-. The slide blocks 53 are also provided with portions extending upwardly above the'plate 51, the outer lateral faces 51 of theseportions 55 being tapered-downwardly and outwardly, as shown in Figure 30, to provide cam surfaces. Also mounted on the plates 51 outwardly of the upstanding portions 85 are a pair ofupstanding portions 58 having transverse slots 58 therein, as shown in Figures 23 and 24.

\ The plate 51 is provided with a number of'separated recesses or depressions I8, each of which contains a bearing plate 1|, and a number of small balls 12. Seated over the plate 55 and in engagement with the balls I2 are a pair of slide 5 plates 18 which are slottedat H to extend around e the upstanding portions 68. These plates 18 are each provided at their inner edges, as shown-in Fig. 28, with a series of slidably interfltting fingers 15 along their inner edges. The plates I8 are 10 a secured by screws 15 to the slide blocks 88 as shown in. Fig. 88. Each of the plates 18 is also provided with a longitudinally extending groove or channel TI in its upper surface and these channels 11 receive 1 the lower Jaws 58, the teeth 58 of the jaws 58 being disposed over the interiitting fingers 15' as rod 88 extends, the ends of the rod 88 being supported by brackets 8| secured to the plate 51. Surrounding the rod 88, and disposed between the portions 18 is a coil spring 82 which functions with the spring 55 to resiliently urge the slide'plates apart and normally space the 30 lower jaws 58 as shown in Figs. 2'1 and 28.

Mounted at one side of the table-portion l are a pair of upstanding brackets 88, each of which is provided at the'inner sides with a series of upper anti-friction rollers 88, and a series of lower anti-friction rollers 85 spaced from the rollers 84. A slidable carriage 85 is mounted between the series of upper and lower rollers, horizontal anti-friction ro lers 8I being provided at the a forward and rearward ends of the brackets 88 for engaging the sides of the carriage 85.

As shown in Figs. 25, 26, and 27, the carriage 85 is provided with longitudinally spaced transversely extending recesses 88, extending vertically therethrough, and extending between the walls of each recess 88 are spaced webs 88. The webs 88, however, as shown in Figs. 25 and 26, extend only part way down the recesses 88. Disposed within the recesses 88 below the webs 88 are vertically movable blocks 88. Each block a 88 is normally in an uppermost position adjacent the lower edge of the webs 88 and is held in such position by bolts 8| threaded therein and extending upwardly through certain of the webs 88'and provided at their upper ends with heads 82, coil springs being provided around the projecting ends of the bolts 8| and between the heads a: and webs as.

Extending through the webs 88 in each recess 88 is a shaft 88 Each shaft has secured thereto a pair of cams 85 which engage with the blocks 88. The shafts 84 are provided with portions 85 extending upwardly between the webs 88 and above the carriage 85, as shown in Figs. 23, 24, 5 and 25, and the upper ends of these portions 88 are interconnected by an adjustable link 81. The foremost portion 88, as shown in Fig. 25, is connected by a link 88 with an actuating lever 88 which is'pivoted by means of a pin I88 to the [8 forward end of the carriage 85. By actuating the lever 88 the blocks 88 through the medium of the cams 85 are caused to travel downwardly.

Each of the blocks 88 is provided with a downwardly presenting transverse recess l8l which is of dove-tail shape in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 25, and slidably mounted in each recess is a pair of. spaced slide blocks I02 which are resiliently held apart by coil springs I02, as shown in Fig. 26. The blocks and slide blocks I02 are provided with opposed recesses I04, and between plates I00'in the bottoms of these recesses are a number of small balls I 00 which provide for relatively free movement of the blocks I02 in the recesses IOI.

The blocks I02 support a pair of spaced plates I01 which, as shown in Fig. 29,"are similar to the lower plates I0 and which are provided at their inner edges with slidable interfitting fingers I 00.

. The plates I01 are longitudinally recessed-and carry the upper. jaws 55, as shown in Figs. 26, 27, and 29.

The upper jaws 55 are arranged to be moved toward each other and the lower jaws 00 are arranged to be moved toward each other, by a single means when the carriage 06 is extended to the position shown in,Figs. 24 and 25. In order to accomplish this, the carriage is provided with a pair of forward vertically movable pins I00, one for the forward end of each plate I0 and'a pair of rearwardvertically movable pins IIO, one for the rearward end of each plate I0. These pins are slidably mounted in vertical openings III in the carriage, the upper ends of which are counterbores II2 to receive coil springs I I0 which surround the pins and engage the bottom of the lcounterbores' and the heads III of the pins. Also,

the pins are provided with tapered cam surfaces II! at their lower ends to engage with the cam surfaces 01 and I0 of the upstanding portions 00 and I0, respectively. Mounted at the rearward end of the carriage 80 is a horizontal shaft H0 having cams I IIthereon which engage the heads of the rearward pins I I0.

Also, mounted at the forward end of the carriage, as shown in Fig. 25, is a horizontal shaft IIO having cams I20 thereon which engage the heads of the forward ends I00. The coil springs Ill cause the heads III of the pins I00 and H0 to resiliently engage the cams III and I20. N

The shafts H6 and H0 are provided withievers I22 which are interconnected by an adjustable link I22 and the forward lever I22 is connected by a link I24 to a lever I25 pivoted to the forward end of the carriage 06 as shown in Figs. 23, 24, and 25.

As previously set forth, the carriage 00 is normally in the retracted position, as shown in Fig. 23. The carriage has a pair of rearwardly extending portions I20 which are interconnected by a transverse portion I21. The portion I2'I is provided with spaced adjusting screws I20 which, when the carriage is moved to the operative podtion shown in Fig. 24, engage with the supports 01a for the rollers 01 and limit the forward movement of the carriage. p

The carriage 06 is also provided with side portions I20 having forwardly projecting fingers I20 at their forward ends which, when the carriage is in the operative position shown in Fig; 24, fit within the slots 60 of the portions 00 and prevent upward movement of the forward end of the carriage. The portions I20 engage with the rollers 84, 00 and 01 to guide the carriage 00.

' In Joining the ends of the tube stock A together to form a completed tube, the tube stock A is disposed underneath the plate 01, then the two ends of the tube stock are placed over the lower jaws N, with the transverse ends abutting each other in a plane midway between the teeth 04 of the areasse shown in Fig. 30, and clamp the ends of the tube stock the teeth It and it of the jaws being caused to become deeply embedded in the tube stock adjacent the severed ends. The cams 00, when the lever 00 is swung to its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 24, lock the plates against upward nliovement and hold them in their clamping posit on.

The operatorthen pulls the lever I downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 24, andthis causes the pins I00 and H0 to move downwardly and the cam surfaces of these pins engage the inclined cam faces 01 and 10.0f-thei1pstanding portions Ji'and I0 respectively, so that during the continued downward movement of the pins I00 and H0 the portions 00 and 18' simultaneously move'the jaws 50' toward each other andthe jaws This movement of the jaws I0 and 55 tends to compress the material of 55 toward each other.

the tube stock between the embedded teeth and severed ends which brings the severed ends into more intimate contact with each other. The compressive action exerts considerable pressure against these severed ends which causes them, be cause of their tacky surfaces and the character of the unvulcanized material, to continuously adhere to each other, and the interfitting fingers on the respective plates I0 and I0I prevent the tube material from bulging or moving outwardly at the region between the jaws, for a better union between the abutting ends of the tube material.

The operator then raises the lever 00 which allows the upper jaws to move upwardly away from the tube stock and relieve the tube stock of the clamping pressure. The operator next raises the lever I25 which allows the lower slide plates I3 to return to their normally spaced relation and withdraw the teeth I from the tube stock. Finally, the carriage ismoved to its retracted position and the tube is removed from the apparatus.

The tube may then be transferred to a suitable vulcanizlng heater for vulcanization.

Because ofthe fact that the tube is spliced when it is unvulcanized, the teethjwh ich are embedded in the tube while it is clamped, immediately adjacent the line of splicing, function to force the material comprising the tube toward the line of splicing and actually compresses the same, and this, together with the tackiness of the unvulcanized material where it was severed and the confining of the material at the end of splice against outward movement, provides an emcient, continuous union between the endsv of the tube, which will hold these ends securely together during the subsequent vulcanizing operation.

The jaws instead of being formed with the series of projecting teeth may be provided with narrow ribs at their adjacent edges which will function the same as the teeth in providing for increased clamping action immediately adiacent the line of splicing.

While we have described the apparatus in connection with the splicing of tubes it is to be understoodthat it is applicable to the splicing thereby providing elongated uncuredrubber bodies which comprises of other elongated uncured rubber bodies, such as for example, tire flaps.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modification of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from our invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. The method of splicing the end portions of severing each end portion to provide it with clean-cut tacky end surfaces,mating said end surfaces with each other, clamping each of said end portions immediately adjacent to the line of mating of said end surfaces, and longitudinally compressing the portions of *said end portions which lie between the zones of clamping while confining said contacting end portions against outward lateral movement.

2. The method of splicing the end portions of elongated uncured rubber bodies which comprises severing each end portion to provide it with a clean-cut tacky end surface normal to each side surface thereof, engaging said tacky end surfaces with each other, subsequently clamping said bodyand reducing the cross sectional area thereof at opposite sides of the line of engagement of said end surfaces but at narrow localized zones closely adjacent said line of engagement, confining the portion of said body between said clamping zones and then longitudinally compressing the confined portion of the body including said engaged end surfaces and which is disposed between said localized zones of clamping.

3. The method of splicing the end portions of elongated uncured rubber bodies which comprises severing each end portion to provide it with a clean-cut tacky end surface normal to each side surface thereof, engaging said tacky end surfaces with each other, subsequently clamping said body at opposite sides of the line of engagement of said end surfaces but at narrow localized zones closely adiacent said line of engagement, and then longitudinally compressing that portion of the body including said engaged end surfaces and which is disposed between said localized zones of clamping while confining the material comprising said portion against outward lateral movement.

- 4. The method of joining the ends of an elon-' gated rubber tube together, which comprises severing each of said ends to provide it with a cleancut tacky end surface normal to each side surface thereof, aligning and mating said end surfaces with each other, subsequently clamping each of said ends immediately adjacent to the end surface thereof, and longitudinally compressing that portion of the tube including the mated end surfaces and which lies between the zones of clamping, while preventing lateral flow of rubber in said portion of the tube between the zones of clamping.

5. The method of joining the ends of an elongat'ed rubber tube together, which comprises severing each of saidv ends to provide it with a cleancut tacky end surface normal to each side surface thereof, aligning and mating said end surfaces with each other, subsequently clamping each of said ends with increased clamping pressure to reduce the cross sectional area thereof over a narrow zone immediately adjacent to the end surface thereof, confining that portion of the tube including the mated end surfaces and which faces and which lies between the zones of clamping while holding said portion against outward lateral movement.

MAX ENGLER. I WALTER; J. BRETH. 

